The forthcoming album will feature the same musicians she has been working with since 1972’s “For The Roses”, including drummer Brian Blade, saxophonist Wayne Shorter and possibly pianist Herbie Hancock.

Mitchell will play piano, electric and acoustic guitars and synthesizers herself.

Lyrics for several songs are still being refined. “There’s a lot of back and forth, back and forth,” she said. “But it’s coming.”

The new material that is completed, includes a song inspired by “If”, Rudyard Kipling’s poem standing up for personal integrity. Mitchell has altered it slightly to make the message more relevant.

She also gets political on new song “Holy War”, condemning war waged in the name of religion, and although no names are mentioned, it is clearly an open-ended attack on both terrorist groups and U.S. President George W. Bush.

Joni Mitchell retired writing songs with social and political commentary after 1998’s Taming the Tiger was mauled critically.